Biography

Jessica Libor (b. 1987) is an American artist based in Philadelphia, PA.  Libor’s work depicts the feminine protagonist’s journey in creating her own personal mythology.  She is best known for her oil paintings and accents of precious metals,. Through using the symbols and aesthetic tropes found within fairytales,  Libor explores the process of self discovery that the heroine faces.  By weaving the backdrop of nature into the art like a stage set, she draws the viewer into the world of the painting.  Libor’s imagery often contains fairy tale women, but also references animal spirits, costuming to shape identity, and the spiritual other world as a deeper layer.  Notable works are her self portraits and her series of paintings inspired by Scotland.

Her work has been most notably exhibited at La Serre Wangari in her 2023 solo exhibition in Paris, as well as included in exhibitions at the Barnes Foundation, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Independence Seaport Museum and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. Her work is in private collections in France and in the US. 

Education

•Grand Central Atelier, New York, NY, 2018

•Master of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 2014, Philadelphia, PA

•Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy, 2009

• Associate’s Degree, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA, 2006

Awards

• Audrey W. Dutton Memorial Award (awarded to Soft Sea & Pearly Sea and Sky) , Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City, Nj, 2023

• Honorable Mention (awarded to Wild Things) , Rockport Art Association and Museum, Rockport, MA, 2021

• People’s Choice Award (awarded to Enchanted Cottage), The Whitemarsh Plein Air Competition, Conshohocken, PA, 2021

• 3rd Place Award (awarded to Enchanted Cottage), The Whitemarsh Plein Air Competition, Conshohocken, PA, 2021

• People’s Choice Award (awarded to Beside Green Pastures), The Whitemarsh Plein Air Competition, Conshohocken, PA, 2018

• 2nd Place award in Small Works (awarded to portrait of Ben), The Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA, 2016

• Studio Award, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2013

Museum / Institution

Amoureux de la Foret (Romanced by the Forest), La Serre Wangari, Paris, France, 2023

RAA&M National Juried Exhibition 2021, Rockport Art Association & Museum, Rockport, MA, 2021

Iridescence, Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Baton Rouge, LA, 2021

Summer Collection, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA, 2021

The Grand Exhibition, Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, PA, 2021

The New Pre-Raphaelites, for Harcum College, curated by Era Contemporary Gallery, 2020 - 2021

Faculty and Invited Alumni Show, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA, 2020

Let's Connect Philly, The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, PA, 2018

Alumni Exhibit, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA, 2018

Watercolor Remix, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, 2017

Pop Party,  Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, February 2016

Annual Student Exhibition MFA Thesis, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2014

In the Shadow of a Masterpiece, Gallery 128 at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2012

Drawn From PAFA, The Barbara Crawford Gallery at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Philadelphia, PA, 2011

SC Artists 2010 2D Fine Arts Exhibition, Spartanburg Museum of Art, Spartanburg, SC, 2010

Thirty First Annual Juried South Carolina Artists Competition, Pickens County Museum of Art and History, Pickens, SC, 2010

Anderson Arts Center’s 35th Annual Juried Show, Anderson, SC, 2010

Solo

Amoureux de la Foret (Romanced by the Forest), La Serre Wangari, Paris, France, 2023

Preternatural, Tyler Arboretum, Media, PA, 2022

WILDLOVE, Era Contemporary Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2021

The Mythical Sea, The Mill Studios Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2020

Nature’s Daughters, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA, 2019

 Gardens of Delight, Bazemore Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2016

 Beauty Through Strength, JAG Fine Art, Philadelphia, PA, 2012

Dreams of Radiance, Art and Light Gallery, Greenville, SC, 2008

Group

Titania’s Ball, Era Contemporary Gallery at the Tyler Arboretum, Media, PA, 2023

Dream a Little Dream, 33 Contemporary (online only), 2023

Abend Gallery 31st Annual Holiday Miniature Exhibit, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO, 2021-2022

8th Annual Benefit Exhibition, Bridgette Mayer Gallery, 2021

Self Portraits, 33 Contemporary (online only), 2021

The New Pre-Raphaelites: Illumination, Era Contemporary (online only), 2021

Dreamland, Art for Hearts curated by Ekaterina Popova (online only), 2021

Jessica Libor and Penny Hansen, The Cosmopolitan Club, Philadelphia, PA, 2021

Abend Gallery 30th Annual Holiday Miniature Exhibit, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO, 2020 - 2021

The Creator and the Muse, 33 Contemporary Gallery with Poets Artists, 2020 - 2021 

Wish You Were Here, 33 Contemporary Gallery with Poets Artists, 2019 - 2020

Curls, 33 Contemporary Gallery with Poets Artists, 2019 - 2020

Knights and Monsters, Gristle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2020

La Femme, La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, 2020

Trading Card Art Show III, Gristle Art Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2019 - 2020

Movie Night, Ille Arts, 171 Main Street, Amagansett, NY, 2019

Small Beauties, Era Contemporary Gallery, New York, NY, 2018

Satellite Art Fair, Miami, FL, 2017 

Stargarden, Era Contemporary Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2017 

A.I.R. Annual Postcard Exhibition, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2016

Ballet X Benefit Exhibition,  Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, 2014

Women in Charge, SOHO20 Gallery, New York, NY, 2013

One Hundred Dollars, Littlefield Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2012

Travels and Far-Away Places, Art and Light Gallery, Greenville, SC, 2010

Press

American Art Collector, Wildlove, May 2021

The Vale Magazine, Jessica Libor Unveils New Work in Charity Show ‘WILDLOVE’, May 2021

The Times Herald, Mixed Mediums, March 2021

Philadelphia Style, 6 Inspirational Philly Women Artists to Follow on Instagram Now, September 2020

Hashtag Magazine, Q & A with Jessica Libor, August 2020

The Art Blog, The Artist in the Time of Coronavirus, June 2020

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Enchanted Portals Virtual Show, May 2020

GOSS183 Issue #107 for Poets Artists, October 2019

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Movie Night, September 2019

Self Made Strategies Podcast: Episode 26, the 5 Keys to Strategic Collaboration with Jessica Libor, August 2019

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, July 2018

Create Magazine, The Feminine Spirit: Interview with Jessica Libor

American Art Collector, Editor’s Choice for Emerging Artists, April 2018

WHYY / PBS National TV Feature, Articulate with Jim Cotter, RIP Romance, October 2017

WHYY / PBS , The Blanc Goes On! August 2019

Philly Voice, Philly Artist Explores Beauty, August 2016

The Philadelphia Inquirer, Art Museum ‘Fall Into Street Art’ Fundraiser, 2015

DonArtNews, Jessica Libor Interview, 2014

Contact: jlibor@jessicalibor.com

Photo by Jake Foden Photography